US student presumed drowned

2008-09-03 13:01

Verashni Pillay

Cape Town - A young American student was still missing and presumed drowned on Wednesday, after he was swept off rocks near Plettenberg Bay, rescue workers said.

Terrance Davis, 21, was washed out to sea at about 12:15 on Monday after climbing onto rocks at Harkerville, between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna, according to NSRI Plettenberg Bay Station Commander Ray Farnham.

NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon told News24 that the search was still continuing.

"The official search will still go on for quite some time, but even after that we don't say the search has been called off," he said, explaining that the NSRI continues to watch out for missing people.

UCT exchange students

Davis, from Arkansas in the US, was on holiday with four other exchange students, all studying at the University of Cape Town.

The five hiked down to the beachfront from the View Site parking area when Davies climbed onto the rocks, possibly during a lull in the ocean between heavy swells.

"An SA National Parks team assisted in today's search which included an extensive aerial search by a Robertson 44 helicopter," Lambinon said on Wednesday.

Sea conditions were still rough, which prevented boats from joining the search operation.

"Police divers and SANPark rangers combed the shore-line but due to rough seas neither a physical Scuba-dive search nor a free-dive search could be carried out," he said.

Recent storms have caused one metre deep sea surface foam, hampering search efforts.

Lambinon said the NSRI were in touch with the man's family and the American Consulate General.

Consulate spokesperson Mark Canning said they were grateful for all the work the NSRI had done.

NSRI is manned by 880 volunteers at 29 bases around the coast and on three inland dams. Donations and sponsorships cover the R17m annual operational expenses of the organisation.

- News24